Method and apparatus for control of closed captioning

ABSTRACT

A system for performing closed captioning enables a caption prepared remotely by a captioner to be repositioned by someone other than the captioner, such as by a program originator. This capability is particularly useful when, for example, the program originator wishes to include a banner in a video but also wishes to avoid having a closed caption interfere with the banner. In one illustrative system, the program originator is a broadcast station that includes a conventional encoder and a broadcast station computer. In one arrangement, control data generated at the station computer is incorporated into the caption data by the station computer. In another arrangement, the control data is sent from the station computer to the captioner computer, which incorporates the control data into the caption data.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/950,023, filed Jul. 24, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/094,689, filed Mar. 8, 2002, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,522,267, on Aug. 27, 2013, which is herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to closed captioning, and moreparticularly to control of various aspects of closed captioning by otherthan the captioner.

2. Description of Related Art

A video caption is a title, short explanation, or description thattypically accompanies a pictorial work, and in particular a video work.Open captions are always visible to the viewer while closed captions arevisible to the viewer upon activation of a suitable decoder. Closedcaptioning includes the type of captioning governed by 47 C.F.R.§15.119. Captions may be imposed on a video signal live as the signal isgenerated, or during post-production of the work. Live closedcaptioning, which is commonly done for any live programming such astelevised news programs and sports events, typically uses text createdin real time as the video program is broadcast, or a combination of realtime text and prepared script. Real time captioning typically involves acaptioner who writes the caption as it is broadcast using any suitabletext entry technique.

A stenocaptioner is a specific type of captioner who uses a shorthandkeyboard to enter phonetic shorthand into a computer, which translatesthe phonetic shorthand into characters (letters, numbers, symbols andspaces) in the desired language and communicates the characters andvarious control codes typically to a program originator using a modem.The program originator, which typically is a broadcast station, a cableoperator, a municipality, an audio-visual educational presenter, apublic access originator, a satellite uplink station, and so forth,encodes the video carrying the program with the caption using a specifictype of encoder known as a closed-caption encoder. Closed captionencoders are well known in the art, and include the various models ofSmartEncoder encoder and the model EN470 encoder, which are availablefrom Computer Prompting & Captioning Co. of Rockville, Md.

The closed caption encoded program ultimately is received by a viewer.The closed caption is not visible on the viewer's television screenunless the viewer uses a closed-caption decoder. Such decoders are wellknown in the art.

An example of a conventional system for performing real time closedcaptioning at a broadcast station is shown in FIG. 1. The captionertypically writes the caption using a shorthand keyboard 102 that iscabled to a personal computer (“PC”) 100. The captioner PC 100 typicallyis a general purpose computer running a suitable captioning applicationsoftware such as the TurboCAT software available from CheetahInternational, Inc. of Tucson, Ariz. The resulting caption data, whichis a combination of caption characters and control data, typically istransmitted to an encoder 132 typically located at a broadcast stationusing any desired transmission agency. The transmission agency shown inFIG. 1 is a direct modem-to-modem transmission agency using, forexample, respective modems 112 and 130 and a dial-up connection 120 tomaintain a direct modem-to-modem connection. Although shown as aseparate device in FIG. 1, the modem 130 may be incorporated in theencoder 132. The caption data is added to the video signal by theencoder 132, and the video signal is combined with audio (not shown) andtransmitted using a transmission agency such as conventional radiofrequency (“RF”) broadcast 134, cable or satellite transmission (notshown), and so forth. The transmission containing the video signal andthe caption data is received by the viewer's viewing device, a popularexample of which is an standard television set 140 which includes adecoder that decodes the transmission and displays the caption on theviewer's screen along with the video work. All television sets of acertain size produced in the United States or imported into the UnitedStates must have a built-in decoder and decoder controls.

Typically, closed captions for video works are inserted into the line 21blanking interval, and upon being decoded give the impression that theyare part of the picture. The default placement for closed captions tendsto be the two or three lines at the bottom of a video screen, althoughknown captioning software allows a captioner to select the number oflines and the placement of those lines on the video screen.Unfortunately, the size and location of the closed caption typicallycannot be specified at the broadcast station, which can result in someportion of the picture becoming blocked and invisible to the viewerunder certain circumstances. For example, severe weather notificationsand news flashes may from time to time appear in the picture as a typeof open graphic known as a banner in the same area of a video screen asclosed captions. If the closed captions are not moved elsewhere orsuppressed, the banner will be blocked from full view. FIG. 2 shows anormal video of a news conference during which a sever storm warningbanner is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Closed captioning isturned off. FIG. 3 shows the same news conference being viewed withclosed captioning turned on, just prior to display of the severe stormwarning banner. The speaker is saying “Just one more question, please. Iwill take the next question from Mr. Smith.” A two line captionaccurately capturing this statement appears at the bottom of the screen.However, at the next instant the station displays the sever stormwarning banner at the bottom of the screen, as shown in FIG. 4. Whilethis may be done in a variety of different ways, one common technique isto merge a video of the banner with the main video to create a compositevideo signal for display. Unfortunately, as can be seen by comparingFIG. 4 with FIG. 2, the caption obscures much if not all of the warningbanner, thereby denying the viewer notification of critical information.

Some closed captioning encoders include the capability of automaticallyrepositioning a closed caption a predetermined number of lines uponreceipt of a signal from the Emergency Alert System. However, theprogram originator has no control over this repositioning functionexcept to activate or deactivate it, and the repositioning function isineffective on other types of open graphics.

While the broadcaster could try to telephone the captioner and instructthe captioner to resize and/or relocate the caption in anticipation ofthe banner, the captioner usually is entirely focused on transcribingthe oral material and would be unlikely to answer the telephone.Similarly, the captioner likely would not be closely monitoring thetelevised image while performing a transcription, since such closemonitoring would be a distraction. Moreover, even if the captioner wereto monitor the televised image to detect the appearance of a bannermessage and to reposition the caption accordingly, the banner messagewould still be obscured for the time required for the captioner tonotice the message banner and enter the repositioning instructions.Hence, a need exists for a way to reposition the caption more or lesscontemporaneously with the display of a message banner, withoutdisrupting the captioner's transcription of the oral content of theaudio-video work.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Advantageously, one or more embodiments of the present invention providefor control of various aspects of a caption such as, for example, thenumber of caption lines and the placement of the caption window, from anencoding site such as a broadcast station.

These and other advantages are respectively realized by one or moreembodiments of the present invention. One embodiment of the presentinvention is an apparatus for enabling a user thereof to exert controlof various closed caption display aspects of caption text, comprising auser input component for generating a plurality of selectively operablecontrol elements respectively representative of the closed captiondisplay aspects; a component responsive to selective operation of any ofthe control elements for generating first control data corresponding toat least one of the closed caption display aspects; and a first outputfor supplying the first control data apart from the caption text.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for enablinga user thereof to exert control of various closed caption displayaspects of caption text contained in caption data, comprising a firstinput for receiving the caption data; a user input component forgenerating a plurality of selectively operable control elementsrespectively representative of the closed caption display aspects; acomponent responsive to selective operation of any of the controlelements for generating control data corresponding to at least one ofthe closed caption display aspects; a component responsive to the firstinput and to the control data generating component for incorporating thecontrol data into the caption data to create modified caption data; anda first output for supplying the modified caption data.

A further embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus forimplementing control of various closed caption display aspects ofcaption text contained in caption data by a person other than acaptioner, comprising a first input for receiving first control dataapart from the caption data; a component responsive to the first inputfor incorporating the first control data received at the first inputinto the caption data to create modified caption data; and a firstoutput for supplying the modified caption data.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a system for enablinga program director at a closed captioning encoding site to exert controlof various closed caption display aspects of caption text created by acaptioner and contained in caption data. The system comprises a firstapparatus located at the program origination site, a second apparatusremoved from the program origination site; and a communications linkcoupling the first apparatus and the second apparatus. The firstapparatus comprises a monitor; a plurality of selectively operablegraphic control elements displayed on the monitor, the control elementsbeing respectively representative of the closed caption display aspectsand generating upon operation first control data corresponding to atleast one of the closed caption display aspects; a first input; and afirst output for supplying the first control data apart from the captiontext. The second apparatus comprises a second input for receivingsupplemental control data from the first output; a programmableprocessor responsive to the second input for incorporating the firstcontrol data received at the second input into the caption data tocreate modified caption data; and a second output for supplying themodified caption data to the first input. The first apparatus furthercomprises a third output for supplying the modified caption datareceived at the first input.

A further embodiment of the present invention is a method for enabling auser thereof to exert control of various closed caption on text,comprising generating a plurality of selectively operable controlelements respectively representative of the closed caption displayaspects; generating first control data corresponding to at least one ofthe closed caption aspects in response to a selective operation of anyof the control elements; and supplying the first control data apart fromthe caption text.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method for enablinga user thereof to exert control of various closed caption displayaspects of caption text contained in caption data, comprising receivingthe caption data; generating a plurality of selectively operable controlelements respectively representative of the closed caption displayaspects; generating control data corresponding to at least one of theclosed caption display aspects, in response to selective operation ofany of the control elements; incorporating the control data into thecaption data to create modified caption data; and supplying the modifiedcaption data.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for implementingcontrol of various closed caption display aspects of caption textcontained in caption data by a person other than a captioner, comprisingreceiving first control data apart from the caption data; incorporatingthe first control data into the caption data to create modified captiondata; and supplying the modified caption data.

A further embodiment of the present invention is a method for processingcaption data comprising receiving caption data, the caption dataincluding control data; removing the control data from the caption datato create modified caption data; and supplying the modified captiondata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a closed captioning system of the priorart.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a video screen containing abanner message, as in the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a video screen containing aclosed caption, as in the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a video screen containing abanner message that is obscured by a closed caption, as in the priorart.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a video screen containing abanner and a closed caption that does not interfere with the banner, inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block schematic diagram of a closed captioning system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block schematic diagram of another closed captioning systemin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block schematic diagram of another closed captioning systemin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of caption data.

FIG. 10 is a pictorial representation of a user interface that enables auser at the broadcast station site of some embodiments of the systemsshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to adjust certain aspects of a caption, includingnumber of lines and position such as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial representation of a user interface that enables acaptioner at the captioner's site to select a client for whom real timecaptioning is to be done and to receive and review certain usefulinformation about the client, for some embodiments of the systems shownin FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial representation of a user interface that enables acaptioner at the captioner's site to enter information regarding events,for some embodiments of the systems shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial representation of a user interface that enables acaptioner at the captioner's site to review certain useful informationand control some options regarding connections for real time closedcaptioning, for some embodiments of the systems shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 14 is a pictorial representation of a user interface that enables acaptioner at the captioner's site to review certain useful informationand control some options regarding information captured during real timeclosed captioning, for some embodiments of the systems shown in FIGS. 6and 7.

FIG. 15 is a pictorial representation of a user interface that enables acaptioner at the captioner's site to review certain useful informationand control some options pertaining to diagnostics, for some embodimentsof the systems shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a flowchart of a process in the control programfor enabling a user at the broadcast station site of some embodiments ofthe systems shown in FIGS. 6-8 to change certain aspects of the captionso that the caption and a banner may be displayed together withoutinterference, such as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart that details a portion of the process of FIGS.16A and 16B.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show a flowchart of a process in the bridge programfor generating caption data that incorporates control data from thecontrol program so that the caption and a banner may be displayedtogether without interference, such as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE

By enabling a person other than a captioner to control various aspectsof a closed caption such as the number of caption lines and theplacement of the caption window, interference between the closed captionand an open graphic or, more generally, any section of a displayed videoimage may be avoided. FIG. 5 shows that the closed caption “Just onemore question, please. I will take the next question from Mr. Smith” ispositioned a sufficient distance from the bottom of the screen to permita severe storm warning banner to be displayed without any interferencefrom the closed caption. The closed caption is repositioned without thecaptioner's involvement, and particularly without any need to disruptthe captioner's transcription of the oral content of the audio oraudio-video work.

A illustrative system 600 for performing real time closed captioningusing a conventional closed captioning encoder is shown in FIG. 6. Thesystem 600 enables various aspects of a closed caption prepared at acaptioner's site 610 to be controlled by someone other than thecaptioner, for example by a program director at a program originationsite such as broadcast station 630, before being transmitted in a videosignal from the broadcast station 630 to a viewer's television set 140.This capability is particularly useful when, for example, the broadcaststation wishes to display a warning banner or more generally, wishes anyopen graphic or indeed any particular area of the video image to bevisible to the viewer without being obscured by the closed caption.

The captioner typically writes the caption using the shorthand keyboard102 that is cabled to the captioner's computer 100. Although shown as alaptop model in FIG. 6, the captioner's computer 100 may be anydedicated computer, programmable workstation, or general purposeprogrammable computer such as a desktop or laptop personal computer ofthe type available from the IBM Corporation of White Plains, N.Y., orApple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., operating under any suitableoperating system and running any suitable captioning applicationsoftware that is modified or written to accept remotely generatedcaption commands. Any other type of computer or computing deviceincluding hardwired and dedicated captioning devices may also be used ifdesired. Digital switchbox 616, which is any type of suitable digitalswitch, manual or electronic, permits the captioner to select betweenconventional closed captioning wherein the broadcast station has nocontrol over the various aspects of the closed captions, and improvedclosed captioning wherein the broadcast station has control over variousaspects of the closed caption. Instead of the digital switchbox 616,different ports of the computer 100 may be used if desired.

Conventional closed captioning is implemented by having the captiondata—a combination of caption characters and control data—transmittedfrom the captioning program running on the computer 100 through theswitchbox 616 and a computer 634 (configured for pass through) to theconventional encoder 132 typically located at a broadcast station usingany desired transmission agency. One type of transmission agency shownin FIG. 6 is a direct transmission agency using, for example, respectivemodems 112 and 130, and a dial-up connection 120 to maintain a directmodem-to-modem connection. The caption data is added to the blankinginterval of the video signal by the encoder 132, and the video signalfrom the encoder 132 is combined with an audio signal and is transmittedusing a transmission agency such as conventional radio frequency (“RF”)broadcast 134, or cable or satellite transmission (not shown), and soforth. The transmission containing the audio-video signal and thecaption data is received by the viewer's viewing device, a popularexample of which is a standard television set 140 which includes adecoder that decodes the transmission and displays the caption on theviewer's screen along with the video work. Another suitable transmissionagency is the Internet, the video signal from the encoder 132 beingdigitized by any suitable device (not shown) and streamed or otherwisetransmitted to a viewer's computer or set top box or any other suitabledevice (not shown) via the Internet. Suitable digitizers, streamingsystems, and viewer devices are well known in the art.

Improved closed captioning is implemented by having the caption datafrom a captioning program running on the computer 100 directed throughthe switchbox 616 to a “bridge” program running on the computer 612, anddirected from the bridge program to a control program running on acomputer 634 located at the broadcast station 630 using any desiredtransmission agency. Although shown as desktop models in FIG. 6, thecomputer 612 at the captioner's site 610 and the computer 634 at thebroadcast station 630 may be any programmable workstation orprogrammable general purpose desktop, laptop or workstation computersuch as a personal computer of the type available from the IBMCorporation of White Plains, N.Y., or Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino,Calif., operating under any suitable operating system. Any other type ofcomputer or computing device including hardwired and dedicated encodingdevices may also be used if desired, including devices having integratedencoding and computer functionality. The transmission agency shown inFIG. 6 is the Internet 620 which is accessed by Internet access devices614 and 632. Internet access devices 614 and 632 may be any type ofdevice for Internet access, including dial-up modems, cable or digitalsubscriber line (“DSL”) connection devices, routers, and so forth. Anysuitable Internet transmission technique may be used, includingtransmissions managed by a server or peer-to-peer transmissions. Whileusing the Internet as a transmission agency results in significant costsavings over direct modem-to-modem communications over a telephone line,such direct communications and transmissions over other types ofnetworks, public or private, may also be used if desired. Depending onthe embodiment of the control program, the caption data may be passedthrough the computer 634 to the encoder 132, where it is added to theblanking interval of the video signal, or may have its control datasupplemented or modified by the control program before being furnishedto the encoder 132. The video signal from the encoder 132, whichcontains the closed caption data, is combined with audio and istransmitted using any desired transmission agency, including, forexample, conventional RF broadcast 134 and cable or satellitetransmission (not shown) or the Internet (not shown). Optionally, thevideo signal from the encoder, which contains the closed caption data,may be furnished to a video frame grabber in the computer 634, asrepresented by the dashed line between the encoder 132 and the computer634. Any desired medium may be used for communications between thecomputer 634 and the encoder 132, including serial, parallel, andinternet protocol. The transmission containing the audio-video signalwith the caption data is received by the viewer's television set 140 (orcomputer or set top box or other suitable device), which decodes thetransmission and displays the decoded closed caption on the viewer'sscreen along with the video work.

Although FIG. 6 shows the computer 612 as being located at thecaptioner's site 610, the computer 612 running the bridge program mayalternatively be located at a third party site such as a service center.In the illustrative system 700 shown in FIG. 7, the computer 702 at thecaptioner's site 710 is similar to the computer 100 but runs acaptioning program that is capable of accessing the Internet through theInternet access device 614. Computer 712, which is used instead of thecomputer 612, is at a site other than either the captioner's site 710 orthe broadcast station 630 and accesses the Internet through an Internetaccess device 714. Computer 634 at the broadcast station accesses theInternet through the Internet access device 632.

An illustrative system 800 for performing closed captioning using aconventional closed captioning encoder and an improved captioningprogram that incorporates certain functions of the bridge program tochange aspects of a caption is shown in FIG. 8. Caption data istransmitted from a computer 812 running the improved captioning programat the captioner's site 810 to the computer 634 running the controlprogram at the broadcast station 830 using any desired transmissionagency, illustratively the Internet access devices 614 and 632 and theInternet 620. The control program running on the computer 634 performs acontrol function based on inputs from the program director at thebroadcast station 730. Depending on the embodiment of the controlprogram and the captioning program, the control program may transmit theprogram directors commands to the captioning program for inclusion ascontrol data in the caption data, with the resulting caption data beingpassed through the computer 634 to the encoder 132, or the controlprogram may directly execute the program director's commands and modifythe control data in the caption data being furnished from the captioningprogram to the encoder 132, or any variation of the foregoing. The videosignal from the encoder 132, which contains the caption data, iscombined with audio and is transmitted using a transmission agency suchas conventional RF broadcast 134 to a viewer's television set 140, whichdecodes the transmission and displays the caption on the viewer's screenalong with the video work. Optionally, the video signal from theencoder, which contains the caption data, may be furnished to a videoframe grabber in the computer 634.

While a conventional closed captioning encoder is shown in the systemsof FIGS. 6 and 7, the encoder may take a variety of other forms. Onesuch form, for example, is as a plug-in PCI card for a desktop,workstation or server computer, or more generally, any type card that isinserted into an appropriate bus of a computer. Alternatively, theencoder 132 may be furnished with a suitable microprocessor, sufficientmemory, suitable input/output ports, and suitable programming forcarrying out the functions of the control program.

The control program running on the computer 634 (FIGS. 6 and 7) performsa control function based on inputs from personnel at the broadcaststation 630, typically a program director, to achieve results such asshown in FIG. 5. If the program director wishes to change certainaspects of the caption, such as the position of the caption and/or thenumber of lines in the caption, the program director enters the commandto change the aspect in any suitable manner. The various embodimentsdescribed herein use a graphical user interface to facilitate theprogram director's interaction with the system, although othertechniques such as keyboard-entered text commands, function keyactivation, and voice commands may be used in the alternative ifdesired. Commands entered by the program director are processed in amanner that depends on the specific architecture of the system. In oneembodiment which is referred to herein for convenience as the “passthrough” approach, the commands to change aspects of the caption areentered by the program director and then are transmitted to the bridgeprogram or a captioning program that includes the essentialfunctionality of the bridge program, for incorporation into the captiondata stream. In another embodiment which is referred to for convenienceas the “intercept” approach, the commands to change aspects of thecaption are entered by the program director and then incorporated intothe caption data stream by the control program running on a computer atthe broadcast station. More generally, incorporation of the commands tochange various aspects of the caption may be divided among orconcentrated in one or more software programs running on one or morecomputers, such as one or more of the following: by a control programrunning on a computer at the broadcast station, by a bridge programrunning on a computer at the captioner's site or on a computer on athird party site, by a captioning program running on a computer at thecaptioner's site, or on any combination of two or more of the foregoing.

To facilitate a more complete understanding of the “pass through” and“intercept” approaches, refer to FIG. 9 which shows an illustrativesegment of caption data suitable for the closed captioning encoder 120.The caption data includes both control codes and caption characters.Caption characters include letters, numbers, symbols and spaces, and maybe printing or non-printing. Control codes are used to identify theformat, location, attributes, and display of characters, and includepreamble address codes, mid-row codes, and miscellaneous control codes.Control codes, caption characters, and the use thereof in closedcaptioning are more fully described in Title 47 of the Code of FederalRegulations, Part 15, section 119.

FIG. 9 shows a preamble address code 910 followed by caption characters920. In analyzing the presentation of characters, one can think in termsof a non-visible cursor that marks the screen position at which the nextevent in a given mode and data channel such as, for example, the displayof characters 920, will occur. The preamble address code 910 positionsthis non-visible cursor.

In the pass through approach, control data are generated by the computer634 based on inputs from the program director, and are transmitted toanother computer (illustratively the computers 612 or 712 at thecaptioner's site, but may be another computer at the broadcast stationor at a third party site (not shown)) for incorporation into captiondata. The control data may be instructions to generate control codes,the control codes themselves, or some variation of the foregoing. If thecontrol data are instructions to generate control codes, the applicationrunning on the computer at the captioner's site, illustratively either abridge program or a captioning program improved with the essentialfunctionality of the bridge program, has the capability of processingthe control data received from the broadcast station essentially as ifthey were commands entered by the captioner so that the appropriatecontrol codes are generated. The application running at the captioner'scomputer detects the next ordinary occurrence of a preamble addresscode, substitutes the new preamble address code 910, and transmits thecaption data 900 to the computer running the control program, forexample, the computer 634 in FIGS. 6 and 7. Alternatively, theapplication running at the captioner's computer may simply insert thenew preamble address code 910 into the caption data, although thisapproach could lead to conflicts and undesired results in someinstances. The computer 634 then passes the caption data 900 throughpreferably unaltered to the encoder 132. The application running at thecaptioner's site may perform other functions as well in response toreceipt of control data from the broadcast station, such as, forexample, displaying a notification of the action taken by the programdirector. Additionally, status and message data may be transmitted fromthe broadcast station and displayed by the application running at thecaptioner's site. In an alternative to the pass through arrangement, thecaption data 900 may be made to bypass physically the computer runningthe control program by appropriate intelligent electronic switchesexternal to the computer running the control program (not shown).

In the intercept approach, the computer 634 receives caption data,generates new control data based on inputs from the program director,and incorporates the new control data into the caption data.Incorporation may be done in any suitable manner, but a preferable wayis to detect the next ordinary occurrence of a preamble address code inthe caption data, substitute the new preamble address code 910, andtransmit the modified caption data 900 to the closed captioning encoder132. Alternatively, the application running on the computer 634 maysimply insert the new preamble address code 910 into the caption data,although this approach could lead to conflicts and undesired results insome instances. If desired, a message may also be sent from the computer634 to the computer at the captioner' site, such as computers 612 or712, so that the captioner's bridge program or improved captioningapplication can inform the captioner of the action taken by the programdirector and update its state if appropriate.

In either the pass through approach or the intercept approach, thecaptioner may be provided with the ability to override the action takenby the program director.

Illustrative User Interfaces for Command Incorporation PerformedPrimarily by the Bridge Program

FIG. 10 is a pictorial representation of a user interface 1000 that isdisplayed to, for instance, a program director at a broadcast stationand which is useful for allowing the program director to reposition acaption in the manner shown in FIG. 5 from the broadcast station. Thedisplay may be any suitable display device, including such well knowdevices as video display screens, personal viewing devices, and soforth. The user interface 1000 includes a number of virtual controlsincluding pull down menus, lists, and buttons, as well as variousdisplay elements for communicating status and other information to theprogram director. The controls are operated by positioning a cursor (notshown) with a mouse and then clicking a mouse button, by tapping a touchsensitive screen with or without a stylus, by issuing appropriate voicecommands, or by any other convenient user input facility. Correspondingkeyboard text entry or key controls, which are other well known types ofuser input facilities, may be provided if desired.

An area 1002 of the user interface 1000 includes a setup list controland a help list control. An area 1004 of the user interface 1000includes three buttons for selecting the number of caption lines to bedisplayed on the video work. Illustratively, one button selects 2 lines,another 3 lines, and another 4 lines. An area 1006 of the user interface1000 includes three buttons for relocating the caption window on thedisplay of the video work. Illustratively, one button selects the top ofthe screen, another button selects the bottom of the screen, and anotherbutton selects a location generally in the middle of the screen. Themiddle location is determined by a setting entered by the programdirector in a list window/button feature 1020 of the user interface1000. An area 1016 of the user interface 800 includes two buttons forclosing and reopening the caption window on the display of the videowork. Illustratively, one button opens the caption window if it isclosed, and the other button closes the caption window if it is open.Preferably, the caption window remains closed for only a predeterminedamount of time following the issuance of the command, unless an opencommand is issued earlier. An area 1018 of the user interface 1000includes two buttons for moving incrementally the caption window on thedisplay of the video work. Illustratively, one button moves the captionup one row, and the other button moves the caption down one row. Amessage window 1008 is provided so that the program director may composea message and send it to the captioner. The message window 1008 alsoincludes a list control, which is used to display and select from a listof previously composed and, if desired, pre-composed messages. Themessage composed or selected and displayed in the message window 1008 issent to the captioner by clicking on the “Send” button 1022. Receipt ofthe message by the captioner is indicated by system activation of anydesired display element, here a virtual light emitting diode (“LED”)element placed immediately after the phrase “Command/Message Received byCaptioner” in the message area 1010. The type of connection used as thetransmission agency between the broadcast station and the captioner'ssite is shown in the message window 1024, and the status of connectionsto the captioner's computer such as computers 100, 612 and 712 and tothe encoder 132 are indicated by the virtual LED elements immediatefollowing, respectively, the phrases “Captioner Connection” and “EncoderConnection” in the message area 1012. The message window 1014 containsspecific information on communications latency, namely the averagelatency, the minimum latency, and the maximum latency. The number ofwords per minute is reported in the window 1026. The window 1028 is formiscellaneous information such as depiction of the characters sent tothe encoder and so forth.

FIGS. 11-15 are pictorial representations of a user interface that isdisplayed to a user such as the captioner or a third party servicecenter, for example, and which is useful for allowing the user tomonitor various developments and to control certain interactions withthe broadcast station. In one embodiment, the user interfaces shown inFIGS. 11-15 are generated by a bridge program running, for example, onthe captioner's computer 612 apart from a captioning programming runningon the captioner's computer 100, although substantially the samefunctionality can be built into an improved captioning program runningon a single computer such as the computer 712, or the bridge program andthe captioning program can run separately on the same computer or onseparate but networked computers. For purposes of describing FIGS.11-15, the bridge program is presumed to perform the incorporation ofcontrol data from the client into caption data, although theincorporation may be performed by the control program if desired. Thedisplay may be any suitable display device, including such well knowdevices as video display screens, personal viewing devices, and soforth. The user interfaces of FIGS. 11-15 include a number of controlsincluding pull down menus, lists, and buttons, as well as variousdisplay elements for communicating status and other information to thecaptioner. The controls are operated by positioning a cursor (not shown)with a mouse and then clicking a mouse button, by tapping a touchsensitive screen with or without a stylus, by issuing appropriate voicecommands, or by any other convenient user input facility. Correspondingkeyboard text entry or key controls, which are other well known types ofuser input facilities, may be provided if desired. Preferably, thebridge program is protected by a hardware or software security lockrequiring the captioner to insert an appropriate hardware or softwarekey to use the bridge program.

The captioner's user interface includes a number of elements that arecommon to the various particular instances of the user interface inFIGS. 11-15. An area 1110 includes a File list control, an Options listcontrol, and a Help list control. An Internet protocol button 1126functions when selected to connect the bridge to the control program ifit is disconnected, or to disconnect the bridge from the control programif the Internet connection is active. If the bridge and control programsare connected via the Internet, the button 1126 is labeled “IPDisconnect” as shown. If the bridge and control programs are notconnected, the button 1126 is labeled “IP Connect.” A modem connectbutton 1128, illustratively labeled “Dial,” functions when selected toconnect the bridge to the control program via a modem and telephone linesuch as that shown, for example, in FIG. 6 by the modems 112 and 130 andthe dial-up connection 120, if there is no connection, or to disconnectthe bridge from the control program if the modem connection is active.If the bridge and control programs are connected via modem, the button1128 is labeled “Hang UP.” If the bridge and control programs are notconnected, the button 1126 is labeled “Dial” as shown. Status window1129 shows the connection status, which is “IP Connected” in FIG. 11. Ifthe connection is by dial up modem, the connection status illustrativelywould be “Modem Connected.” Status window 1138 shows a list of allcaptioners authenticated by the control program for the particularcustomer to which the captioner is connected. One captioner is theactive captioner, and the other captioners are on standby. A “Seize”button 1136 functions when selected to allow the captioner to choose tobecome the active captioner. A list of authenticated captioners incombination with a seize button is particularly useful for facilitatingseamless and rapid handoffs from one captioner to another. Handoffs arenormally quite awkward when direct modem-to-modem connection is used,since the currently connected captioner must terminate the connection topermit the replacement captioner to dial in and resume captioning.Typically, such handoffs occur during commercial breaks, since theyrequire about a minute and a half to complete. In contrast, having oneor more authenticated captioners on standby allows an authenticatedcaptioner to initiate and complete a handoff seamlessly and nearlyinstantaneously simply by selecting the “Seize” control 1136 andbeginning to transcribe where the previously active captioner left off.The handoff itself is implemented by the control program. Alternatively,the program director may be provided with suitable controls and listsfor selecting which captioner to make the active captioner. A“Communications” area 1120 contains an array of virtual LEDs to indicateactive (Act), connect (Con), transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) status for aCaption Input parameter such as the captioner's Internet ServiceProvider (“ISP”) address, a Client Data Output parameter such as thecaption and message data on the Internet port, and a Client Mediaparameter such as the video and audio on the Internet port. A “ControlModule IO” or control module input/output area 1122 includes threesub-areas 1124, 1144 and 1142. Sub-area 1124 is a display window. If thecontrol software running on the broadcast station computer includes anability to “grab” a screen frame periodically, say, for example, everyten seconds or so, the grabbed screen frames may be transmitted to thecaptioner's computer and displayed in the picture window 1124, therebyallowing the captioner to monitor the broadcast and the captionsappearing therein. Sub-area 1144 contains three information windows forinforming the captioner of any position overrides made by the programdirector to, respectively, the number of lines in the caption and thenumber of rows the caption has been moved up or down, and also whetherthe caption window has been suspended. Since the only change made by theprogram director in the example is to move the caption two rows up, onlythis change is reported in the client position override sub-area 1140and the caption is indicated by “Cap Passing” as passing. Sub-area 1144also contains a button “Reset OVR” for resetting the overrides made bythe program director. Sub-area 1142 is a message window for displayingmessages entered into the message window 1008 of the user interface 1000by the program director and transmitted from the computer at thebroadcast station running the control program to the computer at thecaptioner's site running the bridge program. Illustratively, the message“Weather alert is 30 seconds long” is displayed in the message window ofthe sub-area 1142. A “Clear” button 1140 located in proximity to themessage window 1142 functions to clear the message window 1142 whendesired by the captioner. The user interface also contains a number oftabs such as 1201 (FIG. 12) and 1102, 1103, 1104 and 1105 (FIG. 11)which are useful for selecting one of the display areas of “ClientInfo,” “Event,” “Connection,” “Capture,” and “Diagnostics” as the activedisplay area.

FIG. 11 shows a particular instance of the user interface that includesa tabbed active display area 1101 identified by the heading “ClientInfo.” The display area 1101 enables a captioner at the captioner's siteto receive and review certain useful information about the variousclients of the captioner, as well as to select a particular client forwhom real time captioning is to be done, for some embodiments of thesystems shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. If not already displayed by default, thetabbed display area 1101 identified by the heading “Client Info” is madethe active display area when the captioner clicks on the “Client Info”tab 1201 (see FIG. 12). The display area 1101 includes a choose clientwindow 1112. The captioner preferably uses a list control included withthe choose client window 1112 to display and select from a list ofclient names. The bridge program then accesses various usefulinformation about the selected client, preferably from a Web pageaccessed via an Internet connection. Examples of useful clientinformation includes confirmation of the client's name, the client'snetwork affiliation, the telephone numbers for the selected client'scontrol room, engineering department, and assignment desk, and whetherthe client has approval for extensions and/or emergencies, which aredisplay in the respective windows 1114, 1116, 1130, 1132, 1134 and 1118.The captioner may use this information to confirm that she is sendingcaption data to the right client and to contact the appropriate clientemployee as needed. Additional information about the client that mightbe of interest to the captioner is displayed in the “Client Notes”window 1119.

The captioner connects to a particular client over the Internet bycausing the client's name to be displayed in the window 1112 andpressing the IP connection button 1126. When a connection between thebridge program and the control program is achieved, the status window1129 displays the message “IP Connected.” The computer 634 at theclient's broadcast station performs an authentication operation with thebridge program to ensure that the bridge program is an authorized copy.While any desired authentication protocol may be used, an illustrativeprotocol involves having the bridge program at the captioner's sitereturn to the control program at the broadcast station a valuecalculated from the mathematical manipulation of a randomly generatednumber sent by the control program, and confirming in the controlprogram that the returned value is correct. Once the bridge program isauthenticated by the control program, the control program places thecaptioner on standby. In the event that no other captioner is active,the captioner is automatically made the active captioner. Theauthenticated captioner list window 1138 in FIG. 11 shows the captioneras being active, and Ann and Bob as being on standby.

FIG. 12 shows a particular instance of the user interface that includesa tabbed display area 1202 identified by the heading “Event.” Thedisplay area 1202 enables a captioner at the captioner's site to entercertain information about the event that the client might find usefulfor its specific needs, for some embodiments of the systems shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. Illustrative information includes the event title in thecomposition window 1210 (for instance, an annual stockholders meeting),an event identifier in the composition window 1216 (for instance, theticker symbol for the company's stock), and the date and time of theevent in the date and time windows 1212 and 1214. The current time isreported in display window 1218.

FIG. 13 shows a particular instance of the user interface that includesa tabbed active display area 1303 identified by the heading“Connection.” The display area 1303 enables a captioner at thecaptioner's site to review certain useful information and control someoptions regarding connections for real time closed captioning, for someembodiments of the systems shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Specifically, thecaptioner is able to determine the protocol for use with the client byselecting the appropriate radio button in area 1314 of the tabbeddisplay area 1303. Illustratively, four radio buttons are shown forselecting from, respectively, a standard closed captioning protocol, anASCII text only protocol, a supplemental client controlled closedcaptioning protocol, and a special customer-specific protocol. Thestandard closed captioning protocol is that which is typically used inthe FIG. 1 system and is compliant with 47 C.F.R. §15.119. The ASCIItext only protocol is similar to the standard closed captioning protocolbut has all control codes striped out. The ASCII text only protocol isuseful for many purposes, including overlaying on digitized video thatis then streamed or otherwise transmitted to a viewer's computer or settop box or any other suitable device (not shown) via the Internet. Thesupplemental client controlled closed captioning protocol is compliantwith 47 C.F.R. §15.119 and also enables the pass through approach or theintercept approach to be carried out between the control program and thebridge program. The special protocol represents a customer-specificprotocol, where certain unique requirements of a particular customersuch as the use of start-up protocols are accommodated. The eventinformation described with reference to FIG. 12 is an example of where aspecial protocol would be used. The special protocol may or may not becompliant with 47 C.F.R. §15.119 depending on a particular customer'sspecifications. Of course, any number of other protocols, both existingand to be developed, also may be used if desired. Moreover, some typesof special protocol may also be overlaid on digitized video that is thenstreamed or otherwise transmitted to a viewer's computer or set top boxor any other suitable device (not shown) via the Internet. The displayarea 1303 also includes four information windows 1310, 1316, 1312 and1318, which respective identify the host name and address, and whereapplicable, the network port, the program audio numbers, and theencoder/modem numbers. The display area 1303 also includes a modembackup configuration area 1316, which is useful to control a modemconnection when an Internet connection is unavailable. The area 1316contains an array of virtual LEDs to indicate active (Act), connect(Con), transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) status, and a variety of settableparameters such as the dial prefix, the dial number, the modem serialport, the number of data bits, the parity, and the number of stop bits.

FIG. 14 shows a particular instance of the user interface that includesa tabbed active display area 1404 identified by the heading “Capture.”The display area 1404 enables a captioner at the captioner's site toreview certain useful information and control some options regardinginformation captured during real time closed captioning, for someembodiments of the systems shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Specifically, thecaptioner is able to learn the number of lines in the log file, which isreported in the information window 1410, is able to indicate a completeevent by selecting the “Complete” button 1414, and is able to save thecurrent log file by selecting the “Save As” button 1412. When the button1412 is selected, a dialog box appears so that the file may be selectedor created, in a manner well known in the art. The log file itself isdisplayed in the window 1416. Buffered text that has not yet been sentto the control program is displayed in the window 1418.

FIG. 15 shows a particular instance of the user interface that includesa tabbed active display area 1505 identified by the heading“Diagnostics.” The display area 1505 enables a captioner at thecaptioner's site to review certain useful information and control someoptions pertaining to diagnostics, for some embodiments of the systemsshown in FIGS. 6 and 7. All recently sent data is displayed in window1512 while all recently received data is displayed in window 1514. Thedisplayed information is of value to support personnel when a problemdevelops in using the bridge program. The information windows 1512 and1514 may be cleared by selecting the respective “Clear” buttons 1518 and1520.

Illustrative System for Command Incorporation Performed Primarily by theBridge Program

While some of the user interface functions are naturally best performedat the broadcast station and while some of the user interface functionsare naturally best performed at the captioner's site, many of thefunctions not specific to one or the other of the user interfaces may beperformed at various places in the system. For example, incorporation ofthe program director's override control data into the caption data maybe performed either at the broadcast station or at the captioner's site,and may even be performed on a server located on the Internet remotefrom the broadcast station and the captioner's site.

The general system architecture of FIG. 6 supports the process exampleshown in FIG. 16 in which the control program runs on the computer 634at the broadcast station and provides a highly effective interface withthe program director but little direct manipulation of the caption data,while the bridge program runs on the computer 612 at the captioner'ssite and provides both a highly effective interface with the captionerand a high degree of manipulation of the caption data. A conventionalcaptioning program such as the TurboCAT program runs on the computer100.

In the broadcast station 630, the computer 634, illustratively an IBMcompatible type computer, is cabled to the encoder 132 from any suitableport such as, for example, the COM2 port. If a dial-up modem connectionis used in the transmission agency 120, the computer 634 is cabled tomodem 130 from any suitable port such as, for example, the COM1 port. Ifan Internet 620 is used, the connection may be made in any suitablemanner such as, for example, through an Ethernet port and a cable or DSLmodem. Generally speaking, any desired type of port may be used in thebroadcast station computer 634 for communications, including dedicatedor shared ports using any suitable protocols such as, for example,serial, parallel, PCMCIA, USB, Ethernet, and so forth. Generallyspeaking, communications through a port can be over a single connectionor multiple simultaneous connections using, for example, the WinsockAPI.

In the captioner's site 610, the computer 612, illustratively an IBMcompatible type computer, is cabled to the computer 100, illustrativelyan IBM compatible type computer, via any suitable type of port such as,for example, the COM2 port. If a dial-up modem connection is used in thetransmission agency 120, the computer 100 is cabled to modem 112 fromany suitable port such as, for example, the COM1 port. If the Internet620 is used, the connection may be made from the computer 612 in anysuitable manner such as, for example, through an Ethernet port and acable or DSL modem. Generally speaking, any desired type of port may beused in the broadcast station computer 634 for communications, includingdedicated or shared ports using any suitable protocols such as, forexample, serial, parallel, PCMCIA, USB, Ethernet, and so forth.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a flowchart of a process 1600 in the controlprogram for enabling a user at the broadcast station site of someembodiments of the systems shown in FIGS. 6-8 to change certain aspectsof the caption so that the caption and a banner may be displayedtogether without interference, such as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 17 shows aflowchart of a process 1700, which is a more detailed view of part ofthe process 1600. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a process 1800 in the bridgeprogram for generating caption data that incorporates control data fromthe control program (“CP control data”) so that the caption and a bannermay be displayed together without interference, such as shown in FIG. 5.It will be appreciated that while the processes 1600, 1700 and 1800 areshown in flow chart form for clarity, the process may be implementedusing any desired programming technique, including script-basedprogramming techniques and object-oriented programming techniques. Manyroutine operations well known in the art are omitted from FIGS. 16-18for clarity. For example, the processes 1600 and 1800 may be providedwith any suitable error detection capability (not shown) or no errordetection capability, as desired. Also, low level routines of a typewell known in the art (not shown) are used with the various control ofthe user interfaces shown in FIGS. 10-15, such as routines that senseclick events over button and control locations and that generate remotecaption commands and handle more complicated operations. Also, certainmessage areas and message windows such as the message areas 1010 and1012 and the message windows 1008, 1014, 1024 and 1026 in FIG. 10 andvarious message areas and windows in FIGS. 11-15 are active and eventdriven in a manner well known in the art. For example, when messages aresent and received, the event triggers notification of the user and thedetails of the communications are transparent to the user.

Refer now to the process 1600 shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. It will beappreciated that the data sets and forms used by the control program,which includes the process 1600, may be stored in any desired manner.For example, a dedicated data base containing the various data sets andforms may be provided, or the data sets may be stored in the computer'sregistration database while the forms may be stored in the executablefiles. Regardless of how stored, the data sets and forms illustrativelyconcerning various interval timer default values, the protocols for thecommunications ports, the various legal notices such as licenserestrictions and intellectual property protection, various globalconstants, various global routines, a scratch pad, any desired helptext, messages previously typed by the program director to the captioneras well as any pre-loaded standard messages, modem setup data, IPaddress data for Internet access, various user option settings such asthe location of the middle row, the type of modem in use, and so forth,identification of the broadcast station, and various screens such as theintroductory screen and the shutdown screen. These and other datastorage techniques and techniques for accessing the data are well knownin the art.

The process 1600 begins with initialization of the modem and internetprotocol communications (block 1602) for connection to one or moreremote computers. The remote computer may be running the bridge program,an improved captioning program that incorporates functions of the bridgeprogram to change aspects of a caption, or any other type of captioningprogram referred to herein for convenience as a “generic” captionapplication. When a remote computer contacts the control program, thetype of connection, either internet protocol or modem, is detected(block 1604). If an internet protocol connection is made (block1604—YES), greeting and challenge messages are sent by the controlprogram to the remote computer (block 1610). This is an authenticationoperation. If the response is not valid or if timeout occurs (block1612—NO), the connection is severed (block 1614) because the remotecomputer is not running an authorized copy of the bridge program or animproved captioning program. If the response is valid (block 1612—YES),the remote computer is authenticated. Alternatively, if a modemconnection is made, greeting and challenge messages are sent (block1620). If a response is received but is not valid (block 1622—NO), theconnection is severed (block 1624) because although the remote computeris running the bridge program or an improved captioning program, thecopy is not authorized. If the response is valid (block 1622—YES), theremote computer is authenticated. Upon authentication, the controlprogram sets the remote to a caption/control mode (block 1630) (or othermodes (not shown) as desired) and remote data is received (block 1632).

When remote data is received after authentication (block 1632), adetermination is made as to whether the remote data includes controldata (block 1634) from the bridge program or an improved captioningprogram (hereinafter “B/C control data”). “Control data” is a broad termencompassing any type of data used for control purposes. B/C controldata illustratively includes the command code @#ID to identify thebridge program or improved captioning program to the control program;the command code @#CT to establish the type of connection channels, forexample, captioning & control, audio, and video, that are supported; thecommand code @#VR to request the control program to send a variable dumpfor initializing or updating the state of the bridge program or improvedcaptioning program; the command code @# to acknowledge receipt of amessage from the control program; and the command code @˜@˜ todisconnect. If B/C control data is contained in the remote data (block1634—YES), the control program strips the B/C control data from theremote data, acts on the B/C control data, and returns the remainder(block 1636), which is then further processed as shown in FIG. 16B. Ifno B/C control data is contained in the remote data (block 1634—NO),processing continues as shown in FIG. 16B.

Refer back to block 1622. If no response is received to the challengemessage, then the modem connection probably is to a “generic” captioningapplication. In this event, the remote data is not expected to containvalid B/C control data, so the remote data is received without checkingfor B/C control data (block 1626) and processing continues as shown inFIG. 16B.

Refer now to FIG. 16B. A determination is made as to whether the remotecomputer is the active captioner (block 1640). If not (block 1640—NO),the remote data is discarded. If the remote computer is the activecaptioner (block 1640—YES), the remote data, which is in the form ofcaption data due to the removal of any B/C control data, is sent to theclosed caption encoder (block 1644). Any response from the closedcaption encoder (block 1646—YES) is sent to the remote connection orconnections as appropriate (block 1650). Any commands from the controlprogram (block 1648—YES) is sent to the remote connection or connectionsas appropriate (block 1650). If the remote computer is authorized (block1652—YES), processing proceeds with the receipt of additional remotedata that may contain B/C control data (FIG. 16A, block 1632). If theremote computer is not authorized (block 1652—NO), processing proceedswith the receipt of additional remote data that is not expected tocontain any B/C control data (FIG. 16A, block 1626).

FIG. 17 shows in more detail the part of the process 1600 for handling aresponse from the closed caption encoder (blocks 1746 and 1750) andcommands from the control program (blocks 1748 and 1750). For purposesof FIG. 17, use the example set forth herein, namely that the Ethernetport of the broadcast station computer 634 is cabled to the Internetaccess device 632 for communication with the bridge program running onthe computer 612, and COM2 is cabled to the encoder 132 forcommunication with the encoder 132. Preferably, only a singlebi-directional connection is used for both caption data (captioncharacters and control data) from the bridge program running on thecomputer 612 at the captioner's site as well as command and message datafrom the control program running on the computer 634 at the broadcaststation. Advantageously, this permits full compatibility with modemtransmissions. However, multiple simultaneous connections or separatededicated connections may be used in a manner well known in the art, ifdesired and if supported by the hardware.

Activity on the communications ports of the broadcast station computer634 is monitored (block 1702) and certain actions taken as appropriate.For example, if an input from the encoder 132 such as an asteriskcharacter indicating receipt of data is detected on COM2 (block1702—YES), the input is trapped by the control program (broadcaststation computer 634) and then transmitted to the bridge program(captioner computer 612) via COM1 (block 1704). If desired, the controlprogram (broadcast station computer 634) may also automatically detectand display a message from the bridge program (captioner computer 612)(not shown).

Mouse clicks or key touch events also are detected (block 1710—YES) andcalls are made to corresponding functions as appropriate. For example,each virtual button click calls a function that either generates acommand code or calls an appropriate subroutine. Various command dataare generated as follows. Clicking one of the three buttons in the area1004 or pressing one of the keys F2, F3 or F4 calls a functioncmd_rows_Click, which sets up how many rows to display and generates andtransmits the command code @LL and a parameter for the number of captionlines (block 1711). Clicking the “Top” button in the area 1006 orpressing the HOME key calls a function cmdTop_Click which generates andtransmits the command code @TT (block 1712). Clicking the “Bottom”button in the area 1006 or pressing the END key calls a functioncmdBottom_Click which generates and transmits the command code @BB(block 1713). Clicking the “Mid” button in the area 1006 or pressing theF5 key calls a function cmdMidRow_Click, which detects the midrowsetting and generates and transmits the command code @MM and a Trimmidrow setting (block 1714). Clicking the “Close” button in the area1016 or pressing the DEL key calls a function cmdClose_Click, which inturn calls a SuspendCaptions subroutine (block 1715). TheSuspendCaptions subroutine transmits the command code @SS. Clicking the“Open” button in the area 816 or pressing the INS key calls a functioncmdOpen_Click, which in turn calls a ResumeCaptions subroutine (block1716). The SuspendCaptions subroutine transmits the command code @RR.Clicking the “Up 1 Row” button in the area 1018 or pressing the PAGE UPkey calls a function cmdUp_Click, which generates and transmits thecommand code @UU (block 1717). Clicking the “Down 1 Row” button in thearea 1018 or pressing the PAGE DOWN key calls a function cmdDown_Click,which generates and transmits the command code @DD (block 1718).

One type of message data is generated as follows. Clicking the “Send”button 1022 or pressing the Return key calls a function cmdSend_Click,which in turn calls a Send_Message subroutine (block 1719). Thesubroutine Send_Message transmits a code @MG and the message text fromthe message window 1008.

Other types of status and message data are generated as follows (notshown). Periodically the control program generates and transmits thecommand code @ID and a value for a customer name parameter, which isdisplayed by the bridge program in window 1112 (FIG. 11). Periodicallythe control program generates and transmits the command code @ VR alongwith certain parameters such as the identity of the active captioner,the identities of the standby captioners, the status of the audio andvideo hookups, and so forth. Other command codes are generated duringauthentication, such as a login challenge command code @CH and a randomnumber parameter, a challenge passed command code @LO, a challengefailed command code @ER, an added captioner placed-on-standby commandcode @SB, and an added captioner made active command code @AC.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a process 1800 in the bridge program forgenerating caption data that incorporates CP control data so that thecaption and a banner may be displayed together without interference(FIG. 5). The process 1800 includes connecting to a standard captioningprogram (block 1802). It will be appreciated that if an improvedcaptioning program that incorporates functions of the bridge program isused, no connection to a captioning program is necessary. The process1800 also includes connecting to the control program (block 1804). Anysuitable connection may be used, including internet protocol and modem.The authentication operation is performed (block 1806) and uponauthorization, connection types such as captioning and control, audioand video are set and the captioner's name is sent (block 1808). If thebridge is in captioning and control mode, its state is updated withinformation from a variable dump from the control program (block 1810).The updating is particularly useful when the captioner is taking over asthe active captioner and the state of the bridge program must be set sothat any repositioning done by the program director is maintained. Asthe caption data is received from the captioning program, preferablyASCII data is generated (block 1812) by stripping out the control codesfrom the caption data.

If the bridge program is in ASCII mode (block 1814—YES), the ASCII datais output from the bridge program (block 1820). The bridge program mayalso be placed in other modes (not shown) such as standard closedcaptioning and special modes.

If the bridge program is in captioning and control mode (block 1816—YES)and a command code from the control program is detected (block1830—YES), a determination is made as to whether the command code is aninstruction to generate a preamble address code. If the command code isan instruction to generate a new preamble address code (block 1832—YES),a new preamble address code is generated from the command code (block1834) and is substituted for an existing preamble address code in thecaption data (block 1836). If the command code is not an instruction togenerate a new preamble address code (block 1832—NO), it is suitablyprocessed (block 1838). Caption data is then output (block 1840),whether the original caption data (clock 1830—NO or block 1838), orcaption data in which a new preamble address code is substituted (block1836).

The bridge program, improved captioning program, and control program maybe programmed in any desired manner, including script-based programmingtechniques as well as object-oriented programming techniques. Anydesired distribution technique may be used for furnishing software tothe broadcast station computer 634 as well as to the captioner computers612 and 712, including such well known techniques as providing theapplications on computer-readable media in a variety of ways, such as infirmware, preinstalled software, software loaded from a storage medium,including magnetic storage media such as diskette, tape and fixed disk,semiconductor storage media such as various types of flash memory cards,and optical storage media such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, and softwaredownloaded from a server over a network, including local and wide areanetworks and the Internet. Scripts and short code segments furnished togeneral purpose browsers may also be downloaded from a server over anetwork.

The scope of our invention is set forth in the following claims. Thedescription of the various embodiments set forth herein is illustrativeof our invention and is not intended to limit the scope thereof.Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading thispatent document, and alternatives to and equivalents of the variouselements of the embodiments will be known to those of ordinary skill inthe art. These and other variations and modifications of the embodimentsdisclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention as set forth in the following claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A closed captioning encoder for enabling a programming originator to view and control one or more aspects of closed captioning processes, comprising: at least one communications port operable for communicating, over a computer network, with a first captioning computer; at least one communications port operable for communicating, over a computer network, with a programming originator computer; at least one communications port operable for receiving an audio signal and a video signal from at least one audio and video signal source; at least one communications port operable for outputting, over a computer network, a program feed, wherein the program feed includes the audio signal, the video signal and a caption encoded signal; a non-transitory memory having stored therein a bridge program; wherein the bridge program comprises instructions for: receiving, from a programming originator computer, at least one command specifying whether conventional closed captioning or improved closed captioning is desired; receiving the one or more closed captioning characters from the first captioning computer; when improved closed captioning is desired, receiving at least one improved control data command specifying at least one or more display aspects of the one or more closed captioning characters; outputting in the caption encoded signal the one or more closed captioning characters and the at least one improved control data command; when conventional closed captioning is desired, receiving at least one conventional control data command specifying at least one conventional display aspect of the one or more closed captioning characters; outputting in the caption encoded signal the one or more closed captioning characters and the at least one conventional control data command; outputting the video signal and the caption encoded video signal to at least one of the first captioning computer and the programming originator computer; whereupon receiving and decoding video signal and the caption encoded video signal at least one of a size and a placement of the closed captioning characters relative to the video signal can be determined based on at least one command present in at least one of the improved control data command and the conventional control data command; a processor operable to execute the bridge program.
 3. The closed captioning encoder of claim 2, wherein the at least one improved control data is generated by the first captioning computer based on at least one second improved control data command generated by the programming originator computer.
 4. The closed captioning encoder of claim 2, wherein the at least one improved control data is generated by the closed captioning encoder based on at least one second improved control data command generated by at least one of the first captioning computer and the programming originator computer.
 5. The closed captioning encoder of claim 2, wherein the at least one improved control data command is generated by the first captioning computer and overrides at least in part one or more second improved control data commands generated by the programming originator computer.
 6. The closed captioning encoder of claim 2, wherein the at least one improved control data command is generated by the programming originator computer and overrides at least in part one or more second improved control data commands generated by the first captioning computer.
 7. The closed captioning encoder of claim 2, wherein the programming originator computer is communicatively coupled to the encoder via the Internet.
 8. The closed captioning encoder of claim 2, comprising the non-transitory memory further storing therein a control program.
 9. The closed captioning encoder of claim 8, wherein the control program comprises instructions for transferring captioning responsibility between the first captioning computer and a second captioning computer.
 10. The closed captioning encoder of claim 9, wherein the instructions for transferring captioning responsibility between the first captioning computer and the second captioning computer include instructions responsive to receipt of a seize request from the second captioning computer, whereupon execution of the instructions responsive to the seize request, captioning responsibility is transferred from the first captioning computer to the second captioning computer.
 11. The closed captioning encoder of claim 10, wherein transfer of captioning responsibility from the first captioning computer to the second captioning computer occurs seamlessly.
 12. The closed captioning encoder of claim 9, wherein the instructions for transferring captioning responsibility between the first captioning computer and the second captioning computer include instructions responsive to receipt of a transfer request from the programming originator computer; whereupon execution of the transfer request captioning responsibility is transferred from the first captioning computer to the second captioning computer.
 13. The closed captioning encoder of claim 8, wherein the control program includes at least one instruction programmed using an object-oriented programming technique.
 14. The closed captioning encoder of claim 13, wherein the control program includes at least one instruction to be communicated by the encoder to the first captioning computer upon establishment of a communications link between the encoder and the first captioning computer.
 15. The closed captioning encoder of claim 14, whereupon communication of the at least one of instruction by the encoder to the first captioning computer and storage of the instruction by the first captioning computer, the first captioning computer comprises a non-transitory memory having the at least one instruction, wherein the a least one instruction facilitates control of at least one or more display aspects of closed captioning data by the first captioning computer.
 16. The closed captioning encoder of claim 13, wherein at least one of the instructions programmed using an object-oriented programming technique is communicated by the encoder to the programming originator computer upon establishment of a communications link between the encoder and the programming originator computer; whereupon execution of the instruction by the programming originator computer a graphical user interface is displayed on a display device communicatively coupled to the programming originator computer.
 17. The closed captioning encoder of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface includes at least one operable control element respectively representative of one or more closed caption display aspects, wherein the one or more display aspects specify at least one of a size and a location for placement on a screen of a display device of the one or more closed captioning characters.
 18. The closed captioning encoder of claim 13, wherein at least one of the instructions programmed using an object-oriented programming technique is communicated by the encoder to the first captioning computer upon establishment of a communications link between the encoder and the first captioning computer; whereupon execution of the instruction by the first captioning computer a graphical user interface is displayed on a display device communicatively coupled to the first captioning computer.
 19. The closed captioning encoder of claim 18, wherein the graphical user interface includes at least one operable control element respectively representative of one or more closed caption display aspects, wherein the one or more display aspects specify at least one of a size and a location for placement on a screen of a display device of the one or more closed captioning characters.
 20. The closed captioning encoder of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface includes a display area for presenting a grab screen frame, wherein the grab screen frame depicts the one or more closed captioning characters as appearing at a grab time and as broadcast for presentation to one or more viewers.
 21. The closed captioning encoder of claim 20, wherein the grab time is less than every ten seconds. 